The Senate is losing a longtime member — and a songwriter. Utah GOP Sen. Orrin G. Hatch is known for his compositions. His song “Souls Along the Way,” written about the late Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy and Kennedy’s wife, was included on the “Ocean’s Twelve” movie soundtrack. Hatch and Kennedy worked together on major health care legislation, and the pair were good friends. (Douglas Graham/Congressional Quarterly file photo)

You can keep track of House and Senate races with this weekly newsletter. (If you didn’t get it in your inbox, *subscribe here.*) We want to hear what you think. Send us your questions, tips or candidate sightings. — Simone Pathé and Bridget Bowman.This week … 2018 has arrived! Three Republicans announced their retirement, two Senate Democrats arrived and Steve Bannon put some conservative candidates in a tight spot.

Hatch Heads for the Exit: Utah Republican Orrin G. Hatch ended months of speculation Tuesday by announcing he was retiring after seven terms in the Senate. That opens the door for former presidential nominee/Massachusetts governor/Trump critic/skillful ironer Mitt Romney to run for Hatch’s seat. So is he running? It’s widely believed he will, but Romney has yet to officially say so. He did casually change his location on Twitter from Massachusetts to Utah following Hatch’s announcement. #WeSeeWhatYouDidThere.

New Jersey Rep. Leonard Lance holds a town hall meeting at the Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, N.J., on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

BRANCHBURG, N.J. — The soft-spoken Leonard Lance, a moderate Republican from affluent New Jersey, is an unlikely politician to attract national media to his backyard.

But as one of just a handful of GOP congressmen — and the only Republican in New Jersey — holding a town hall during the Presidents Day recess, Lance is a rare breed. He’s the first Republican representing a district Hillary Clinton won to hold a town hall since President Donald Trump took office.